What funded childcare support is available?

Eligible parents of children in England aged nine months to school age can receive up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare within term time. Little Echoes offer the funded entitlements annualised across 51 weeks of the year, this ensures that fees remain static, and parents can budget for their childcare fees without the peaks and troughs in fees that the term time application of funding brings.

Childcare support is being provided via three schemes.

9 month - 4 years old for eligible working families -Working Parent Entitlement (WPE)
2-year-old children if the parent receives additional forms of government support (FEET Funding)
Universal 3- & 4-year-old, available for all parents

These schemes have been introduced gradually, as described in the table below. The hours are provided as stretched over 51 weeks or term time over 38 weeks.

	3-4-year-olds		9–36-month-olds
	Term Time	Stretched	Term Time	Stretched
September 2025	Universal hours 15 Inclusive (WPE) 30 hours	Universal hours 11.17 Inclusive (WPE) 22.30 hours	30 hours	22.30 hours
	Children eligible for Feet Funding will access a place free of charge.

All government supported schemes are explained in detail and can be applied for via the best start in life.

At Little Echoes we encourage parents to apply for funded childcare support as soon as possible to ensure you get your code in suitable time for the upcoming term.

Not all parents can get a code straight away - HMRC sometimes needs more information to check whether a parent is eligible. You will need a valid code issued to you ahead of the 1st day of term.

You will also need to reconfirm eligibility for working parent funding every 3 months, HMRC manage this process and the reminders to you themselves. If you do not reconfirm within the time frame you will be liable for full fees.

Once you have applied you will receive a notification to confirm if your child is eligible.

Once you have received your eligibility confirmation you will need to provide the CURN (child unique reference number) to nursery, so that we can validate the code.

If you have a three- or four-year-old child and are not eligible for working parent funding your child is entitled to universal funding following the term after their third birthday.

All funding is applied the term after the child turns the appropriate qualifying age.

A CHILD BORN ON OR BETWEEN:	WILL BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR FREE ENTITLEMENT FUNDED FROM:
1st September and 31st December	1st January following their birthday for 2-4 years or the qualifying month for 9 months
1st January and 31st March	1st April following their birthday for 2-4 years or the qualifying month for 9 months
1st April and 31st August	1st September following their birthday for 2-4 years or the qualifying month for 9 months

How will funding be applied to my child’s sessions?

The funded entitlement hours are spread across 51 weeks for a maximum of 11.17 or 22.30 stretched hours per week based on the days you attend. Term Time funded hours are over 38 weeks 15hrs or 30hrs.

Our funded times are between 9am - 3pm

Stretched funding is applied at 4.46hrs per day. Term Time 6hrs per day.

To access a fully funded only place, these will be offered term time only subject to availability.

Our fees are inclusive of the following:-

All meals and snacks
Wet wipes for after meals
Sun cream
Extra-curricular activities

Therefore, no extra hidden costs are applied.

Private nursery fees are charged for the hours attached in excess of the funded entitlement.

Term Time families will receive an invoice every month as the sessions are multiplied by 38 weeks and divided into 12 months, ensuring the same amount is paid each month.